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Skaggs being promoted, will debut in twin bill

Skaggs being promoted, will debut in twin bill

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PHOENIX -- Needing a spot starter for Wednesday's doubleheader against the Marlins, the D-backs announced they will call up highly touted pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs to make his Major League debut in Game 1 of the day-night twin bill.

"He's had good years in the Minors, he's a big lefty and he's got strikeout stuff," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's developed and put it all together. He's efficient and he's not afraid to let them put the ball in play, even though he can strike you out."

Gibson added he isn't sure what the club's plans are for Skaggs after Wednesday.

In nine starts at Triple-A Reno this season, Skaggs boasted a 2.91 ERA with 45 strikeouts. Before his last outing, in which he gave up eight runs, the lefty had not allowed more than one run for seven straight starts.

The 21-year-old made 13 starts with Double-A Mobile earlier this year, leaving with a 2.84 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.38.

Skaggs was scheduled to start Sunday in Reno, but was a healthy scratch to make sure he could be an option for Wednesday.

The D-backs acquired Skaggs in a 2010 trade that sent Dan Haren to the Angels. The Halos originally drafted the lefty out of high school 40th overall in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Along with a fastball that sits in the mid-90's, Skaggs' out pitch is his 12-to-6 curveball.

"I like the angle with his breaking ball and he's got a good fastball," Gibson said. "You want to disrupt their timing, so you want to have different pitches. You'll get away with more mistakes. He possess that trait. He's very competitive and he works hard."

National League Rookie of the Year candidate Wade Miley will start the second game of the doubleheader.